defensive
/dɪˈfensɪv/ (bre, ipa) · /dɪˈfensɪv/ (ame, ipa) · /di-ˈfen(t)-siv ˈdē-ˌfen(t)-/ (ame, mw) · /dɪˈfen.sɪv/ (bre, ipa) · /dɪˈfen.sɪv/ (ame, ipa)
defensive — 形容詞
- defensivepositive
- more defensivecomparative
- most defensivesuperlative
1. Made or used for protecting people, places, or things against physical attack or
防禦的
用於保護或抵擋攻擊的
Made or used for protecting people, places, or things against physical attack or harm.
A defensive wall along the border helped keep the enemy out.
邊界上的防禦牆幫助軍隊抵擋了敵人。
defensive wall / defensive line
The soldiers were equipped with defensive weapons such as shields and batons.
那些士兵配備了盾牌和警棍等防禦性武器。
defensive weapons
The castle's defensive position on the hill made it hard to attack.
那座城堡在山丘上的防禦位置讓敵人難以進攻。
Devika is studying the country's defensive strategies in her history class.
Devika 正在歷史課上研究該國的防禦策略。
- protective
Broader term — includes general safety (e.g. protective clothing) beyond military/attack contexts.
- guarding
More active — implies someone is physically watching over something.
- safeguarding
More formal; used in legal or procedural contexts rather than physical barriers.
- offensive
Used for attacking rather than protecting.
- aggressive
In military contexts, describes forces that strike first rather than defend.
用法筆記
This sense relates to physical, military, or structural protection. For emotional or psychological self-protection when criticized, see sense 2 (SENSITIVE TO CRITICISM). Commonly passive in construction: 'be defensive' describes the thing itself, not a person's reaction.
常見錯誤
2. Behaving as if you are being attacked or criticised when you are not, or reactin
有防衛心的
對批評反應過度自我保護的
Behaving as if you are being attacked or criticised when you are not, or reacting too strongly to mild negative feedback.
When I asked Haruto about his mistake, he became defensive and raised his voice.
當我問 Haruto 他的錯誤時，他變得有防衛心且提高了音量。
became defensive
Getting defensive when a colleague offers advice can hurt your relationships at work.
同事提供建議時表現出防衛態度，可能會傷害你在職場上的人際關係。
getting defensive
Élise's defensive reaction to the feedback surprised her manager.
Élise 對回饋意見的防衛反應讓她的主管感到意外。
There is no need to get defensive — I am only trying to help.
不需要這麼有防衛心——我只是想幫忙而已。
- touchy
Less formal, slightly stronger — suggests irritation at even harmless comments.
- oversensitive
Focuses on the excessive reaction rather than the act of defending.
- thin-skinned
Informal idiom; implies the person is easily hurt by criticism.
- open-minded
Willing to listen to criticism without feeling attacked.
- receptive
Able to accept feedback calmly and consider it.
文法句型
be/get/become defensive
defensive about + noun/-ing
用法筆記
Typically used as a predicate adjective after 'be', 'get', 'become', or 'feel'. The preposition 'about' introduces the trigger: 'defensive about his grades.' Avoid using this sense for physical protection — that is sense 1 (PROTECTING FROM ATTACK).
常見錯誤
3. Relating to the part of a game or sport where a team or player tries to stop the
防守的
體育比賽中防止對手得分的
Relating to the part of a game or sport where a team or player tries to stop the other side from scoring.
Asher is the best defensive player on the basketball team.
Asher 是籃球隊中最厲害的防守球員。
defensive player
The coach changed the team's defensive strategy at half-time.
教練在中場時改變了球隊的防守策略。
defensive strategy
Jenna made a great defensive move to block the shot.
Jenna 做了一個漂亮的防守動作，擋下了那一球。
A team with a strong defensive line rarely loses by a big margin.
防守線堅實的球隊很少以大比分輸球。
- defending
Can be used similarly ('the defending team'), but 'defensive' is the standard adjective form in sports contexts.
- preventive
Broader and less common in sports; used in general contexts for stopping something from happening.
用法筆記
Often used before a noun (attributive position): 'defensive player,' 'defensive line,' 'defensive formation.' The opposite in sports is 'offensive' — a team has both a defensive unit and an offensive unit.
defensive — 名詞
1. A position in which you prepare yourself to fend off criticism or attack, often
防衛姿態
準備防衛批評或攻擊的心態或立場
A position in which you prepare yourself to fend off criticism or attack, often because you feel threatened or unfairly treated.
The constant criticism put the manager on the defensive.
不斷的批評讓那位經理處於防衛姿態。
put [sb] on the defensive
After the news report came out, the company was forced onto the defensive.
那則新聞報導出來後，該公司被迫採取防衛姿態。
forced onto the defensive
Instead of answering the question, Layla stayed on the defensive all evening.
Layla 整晚都沒有回答問題，而是始終處於防衛姿態。
Politicians often go on the defensive when reporters ask them hard questions.
記者問尖銳問題時，政治人物往往會進入防衛姿態。
- defence mode
Less idiomatic but used informally to mean the same thing.
- guard
Used in 'on guard' — similar structure but emphasises alertness rather than emotional self-protection.
文法句型
on the defensive
put [sb] on the defensive
force [sb] onto the defensive
用法筆記
Almost always appears in the fixed phrase 'on the defensive' or 'onto the defensive,' following verbs like 'put,' 'force,' 'throw,' 'stay,' or 'go.' Not used with indefinite articles (*'a defensive').